Gallant by V.E. Schwab was published in 2022 and was an instant #1 New York Times Bestseller. It was also a USA Today and National Indie bestseller as well as being a Kirkus Best Book.
V.E. Schwab is a bestselling fantasy author of over 20 novels. I’ve only previously read one other V.E. Schwab novel. I read The Invisible Life of Addie Larue last year and I really enjoyed it.
I was therefore excited to read her latest novel, Gallant.
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Plot
Olivia Prior has grown up at Merilance School for Girls. As an orphan, her only link to her family is her mother’s journal. Her family’s past is encapsulated within the pages of the unsettling journal, which seems to gradually descend into madness.
Olivia is therefore surprised to receive an invite to come home to Gallant. However upon her arrival Olivia is surprised to realise nobody was expecting her. Undeterred, Olivia refuses to abandon the only place that has ever felt like home, even in the face of hostility from her cousin Matthew and half-formed ghouls that haunt the mansion’s corridors.
Driven by an unwavering determination, Olivia becomes acutely aware that Gallant is harbouring profound secrets and she believes she is the one to unearth them. When she crosses a wall into another world, Olivia finds herself in a place that looked like Gallant, but isn’t. The ghouls here are fully formed and are ruled by a mysterious figure. Now Olivia sees what has unravelled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.
Longing to find a place of true belonging, Olivia faces a crucial choice. Will she embrace her role as a Prior, safeguarding our world against the Master of the House? Or will she succumb to the allure of joining forces with him and change the course of her destiny?
Gallant Book Review
I really enjoyed this book. While it didn’t capture my imagination quite as much as Addie Larue, I still found it to be a really immersive and captivating read.
I really enjoy V.E. Schwab’s writing style. The prose is lyrical and the evocative descriptions had me captivated. I could so clearly see the house, the wall and the world beyond. I always feel completely drawn into V.E. Schwab’s world when I read her books.
There was a real sense of foreboding and I loved the creepy, intense atmosphere V.E. Schwab created. It was a spooky, gothic read with the spirits lurking beyond every corner. I don’t read a lot of supernatural fiction but I enjoyed how the spirits were portrayed and the purpose they had within the story.
Olivia is a really intriguing character and I appreciated her family secrets were unveiled to her at the same time as the reader, as she explored the creepy old mansion and read her mother’s diaries. It helped created the illusion that I was on the adventure with her.
I would describe Gallant as a young adult novel, especially considering the young protagonist. While it didn’t quite have the complexity and depth The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, it was still a really compelling read.
Overall, I really enjoyed Gallant by V.E. Schwab. It had everything you could want from a spooky, gothic novel including drama, intrigue and adventure.
What to read next
If you enjoyed Gallant, I’d definitely suggest reading more books by V.E. Schwab. I would particularly recommend The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue which I really enjoyed. You may also enjoy Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar.
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I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information please see my disclosure policy.